Three Simple Food Rules Every Pregnant Woman Should Know

Posted on Tuesday, July 16th, 2013 at 4:44 pm.

Expectant mothers are often bewildered by the myriad of nutritional advice shoved at them from all corners. Although most of the advice given is harmless, I think there is a risk of information overload and a tendency to just simply continue eating as usual. But, by simply following a few simple tips, most women can rest assured they are providing their developing child optimal nutrition. Here are three non-negotiable rules I give to my pregnant patients. (note: these do not necessarily apply to women expecting multiples or women with unique health issues.)

1. You DO need to eat “more”, but “more” usually means more better food, not more total food.

If you are at or near your ideal weight, you do not need to eat any additional calories during the first trimester and only about 300 and 450 additional calories during the second and third trimesters respectively. If you are overweight or underweight, or are carrying multiples, we can work with you to determine your unique calorie requirements.

2. Get more protein, but avoid some sources of protein.

Virtually all expectant mothers need more protein in their diets, but steer clear of:

Uncooked or undercooked meat, poultry and seafood

Soft and/or Mexican cheeses (e.g., queso blanco, Brie and Camembert)

Pâté and other organ meats

Most fish sold at restaurants and in grocery stores contains traces of methylmercury, a compound harmful to the baby’s growing brain and nervous system. Therefore, I advise my patients to just avoid all seafood during their pregnancies, unless they are absolutely sure of the source’s safety. The FDA however is more liberal in their advice suggesting instead that mothers simply limit their intake to less than 12 ounces weekly.

Evansville chiropractor Dr. Eric Mitz has a practice focused on pregnancy care and the care of woman, infants and children. He can be found on the web at www.evansvillechiropractor.com as well as on Facebook and Twitter. He is the proud father of six children.